The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is providing a $1.5 million grant to the White Earth Tribal and Community College in Mahnomen, Minnesota. The grant, announced by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, is intended to support the development of a healthcare workforce.
This significant grant will furnish mobile medical training units and other necessary equipment to assist nursing students in preparing for well-paying, high-demand jobs. Based on the grantee’s estimates, this EDA investment is projected to create 44 jobs.
“This EDA investment will tackle the critical nursing and healthcare worker shortage in Minnesota and across the country to ensure that we can overcome future health-related crises.” stated Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The grant is in line with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to helping Tribal Nations build more robust and resilient communities and economies.
The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, highlighted that this investment aims to strengthen the regional healthcare workforce. It will create new job opportunities for Tribal communities, ensuring that economic benefits are equally distributed throughout the region. Senator Tina Smith also expressed support for the grant, noting its impact on addressing workforce shortages in the healthcare sector, especially in isolated and underserved areas.
This project was possible due to the regional planning efforts led by the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC). The HRDC leads efforts to unify public and private sectors in order to create a roadmap for economic development, support private capital investment, and create jobs. The project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which has allocated additional funds to the EDA for disaster relief and recovery.
